A medieval campaign using my proposed RRtK supplement

The pursuit after a battle by the winning army often resulted in a greater number of losses for the loser than the battle itself. At the encouragement of a play tester, I’ve recently added a more historical and bloody pursuit “phase” that more accurately reflects the casualties troops would suffer fleeing from the battlefield. So the RRtKV rules are being fine-tuned.

Pursuit of Sviatoslav’s warriors by the Byzantine army, a miniature from 11th-century chronicles of John Skylitzes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This campaign supplement centers on the ruler, the leader of a nation. In RRtK
the focus is on the general. The ruler can be the CinC of the army as well and
leads an army on the battlefield as history illustrates.

As I posted before, I’ve come up with 8 basic characteristics that a player will randomly roll for each ruler: age, appearance, belligerence,health, loyalty, morals, respect, and
risk-taking in battle. So, for example, a particular ruler could be middle-aged,plain, rash,
weak, unreliable,depraved, hated, and coy in battle.

Then each ruler will have one special quirk randomly determined, among 22 in
all, such as fervent or deformed or ungodly. Again each quirk has a greater or
lesser effect during the season.

It’s fun but optional as it adds some complexity. It makes nations even more unique. Other rules have characterization.This set has definite effects for each characteristic.

Examples:

The old codger succumbs to sickness.
The lethargic ruler suddenly finds an army besieging his walled capital.
An unreliable ally deserts his ally before battle.
The love that the mob has for its ruler may save the nation from descending
into rebellion.

The RRtK supplement I’m working on centers on the ruler, the leader of a nation, not its general like in RRtK. What is the leader like? How will a leader react to different situations? How will the leader act on the battlefield or on the throne? Each leader of a nation has personal, physical and mental characteristics that will affect diplomacy, attitudes about going to war, behavior in battle, lifespan, etc.

The player will roll up for each ruler of a nation the following: age, appearance, belligerence, health, loyalty. morals, respect and risk in battle

Roland receives the sword, Durandal, from the hands of Charlemagne. Late medieval manuscript miniature (ca. 1400?), source unknown, presumably illustrating a maniscript of a Roland romance. Uploaded in August 2004 by User:Ihcoyc (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Depiction of Hannibal and his army crossing the Alps during the Second Punic War. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A hot tale by Porridge Marten, the chronicler of The Song Of Lice and Liar

Palydynne the Pyromancer sent his minions throughout the SevenEleven Kingdoms and beyond to Esso and elsewhere to demonstrate his “surefire wyldfyre.” His motto on his merchant’s card was “Have Fyre Will Expire.” Typically he’d order his men to set off his red rockets containing the liquid fire without prior notice, and then leave his calling card at the castle gate should the lord or royal leader care to pay for his weapons and services.

No doubt most sovereigns might be impressed by his display and recognize wyldfyre’s value against war galley squadrons and troop transports and the galley rowers and soldiers within these wooden vessels. “The best alternative to dragon’s breath,” as Palydynne loved to say.

Early spring the Pyromancer’s demonstrators set forth and made their appearance all over Westeroids and Esso. Hywind Landblaster was annoyed and had the man boiled alive in the concoction. Stainless Brightneon’s witch Malusundra said it was a sign from her god, but Stainless scoffed at it since her god had failed him in the last invasion. Rohbheart Brightneon, however, found it useful for charbroiling a large number of cattle for his nightly feasts all at once. When Dimheiress Tarfeatheren witnessed the red rocket in the night, she believed it was an inferior attempt to match the fire of her dragons, or “my three little buggers” as she referred to them. Dullard Starkcrazy and Moose Boltloose purchased some to heat their wintry castles. Johnny Snowed laughed when the demonstrator couldn’t get the wyldfyre lit in the windy cold and snow.

But others did find its original purpose valuable and contacted Palydynne to arm their war galley squadrons with the dangerous wyldfyre.

Image from an illuminated manuscript, the Skylitzes manuscript in Madrid, showing Greek fire in use against the fleet of the rebel Thomas the Slav (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hywind Landblaster is poised to invade the realm of the Starkcrazys while the Night’s Botch leave the Tall Wall to enter the forested domain of the Wildthings to deal with them in their own lair.

The war between the Frayd and the Greyboy/Darne alliance is over with Weirdo Frayd, an unhappy yet vengeful lodger among his ally, Bedmore Sully.

The two Brightneon brothers stll face each other at Binge Landing, but national morale in House Runtly Brightneon is low. Runtly knows, however, that the constant assault has battered the walls at Binge Landing. Are they close to a breach?

Peace reigns between Darne and Dimheiress, Queen of Galleeria, and between Starkcrazy and House Boltloos, but the enforced peace between the poverty-stricken House Stainless and Landblaster has ended. The same is true with Lady Lyce Arhead and the Landblasters. Will war erupt again to spoil Hywind’s invasion of the Starkcrazy domains?

The Sullys in the Quiverlands and the Hyfells of the Peach may be ready to wage war again and reverse their fortunes on the battlefield.